Madison County sheriff's deputy honored for saving life

Cazenovia >> A Madison County sheriff's deputy is being honored for helping save a suicidal woman.

Last last week, Madison County sheriff's deputies and state police responded to a report of a suicidal female threatening to jump off the gorge at Chittenango Falls State Park in Cazenovia around 7:30 p.m.

Deputy Shawn Burbidge was the first to arrive. He found the woman on a cliff edge about 150 feet above the base of the falls. She had climbed over a fence separating the sidewalk observation area from the edge of the cliff leading to the base of the falls. Burbidge, with State Trooper Miles Robertson, tried talking with the woman, but she didn't acknowledge them.

With the assistance of Robertson, Burbidge tied himself to the fence with rope, climbed over, and tried talking with the woman again. She looked at him, then turned back to the cliff edge and began leaning forward. Burbidge reached his arms around her and held her while Robertson helped pull them back to the fence.

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"This office does not typically report on incidents of this type," said Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley. "However, due to the actions of Deputy Burbidge, who clearly displayed a calm and reassuring demeanor at the scene, and without regard to his own safety, placed himself at great risk in saving a life that evening.

"The quick actions of both Deputy Burbidge and Trooper Robertson in saving this individual were heroic," he said.

The subject was transported by CAVAC ambulance to a Syracuse hospital for evaluation.

Burbidge, a 6-and-a-half year veteran of the Madison County Sheriff's Office, is also a K9 handler.